Boehner Punts On Obamacare Shutdown Threat

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) again declined to take a position Wednesday when asked if he'd support efforts by conservatives to shut down the government if Obamacare isn't defunded.

"We've made no decisions about how we're going to proceed with the [continuing resolution]," he told reporters. "We're going to have ample time to deal with the fiscal issues that are staring us in the face, and I'm confident that beginning in the fall -- it may be a messy process, but I suspect we'll find a way to get there."

Conservative Republicans leading the effort have conceded that the party isn't likely to follow through but are pressing on with their demands anyway that GOP lawmakers block legislation to continue funding the government after Sept. 30 unless it scraps the funds to implement the Affordable Care Act.